Grab a map, record your memories – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

A great idea for remembering a special trip is to get a local map in the local language. Maps can range in detail from neighborhood streets to an overview of the region. Find a special interest map, like wine regions throughout France or boutiques along Magazine Street in New Orleans.

Use your map to mark a favorite spots during your trip — or to plan your next day. Write down your experiences and attach it to your map for an instant travelogue. Maps fold up small and are easy to pack on the trip home.

Bonus: you can share your map with friends when you get home, when they decide to go on a similar trip.

Hold the cologne – Airplane tip

by Gadling Staff on

Most travelers know to shower before they fly. It’s common sense that when you’re going to be captive for hours, with no personal space, the last thing anyone needs is body odor. What some new travelers don’t realize is that even the tiniest amount of aftershave or perfume can be toxic to cooped-up fliers.

At home, your loved one may adore the smell of your fu-fu, but people sitting near you on a packed flight, will not — and there is just no way they can get away from it.

So, to recap: shower; wear fresh, clean clothes; but please hold the cologne.

Roadtrippin’ with a theme – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Road trips are meant to be fun and adventurous. Up the stakes by picking a theme for your trip!

Choose a theme that you and your travel buddies agree might be interesting, and do your best to center your stops and sightseeing around this theme. The possibilities are endless:

  • Food theme: Eat only barbecue across the Southeastern U.S.
  • Sports theme: Pit-stop at small town parks for quick games of touch football
  • Souvenir theme: Collect tacky knick-knacks from truck stops and gas stations
  • Couch theme: Limit your overnight stays to only couch-surfing

Avoid eating cold dishes (especially in developing nations) – Dining out tip

by Gadling Staff on

Having visited India several times in my life, I can confidently say that eating a cold dish is a one-way trip to the hospital. It’s because food handling standards in some countries are not quite the same as in developed nations.

Foods to avoid include chilled sauces and desserts. It’s actually a pretty easy tip to follow because most food is made hot and fresh. However, chilled foods are a problem because bacteria is permitted to develop and the food may be several days old.

Cook with the coffee pot – Hotel tip

by Gadling Staff on

The hardest part about hotel life, isn’t the bed, or bathroom, it’s food. What a lot of people don’t know is that you can do some quick home-styled cooking with the appliances you have available. The most important of these is the coffee pot!

The coffee pot’s heat comes from a warming plate, which is what the pot rests on. If you fill the pot with water and let it heat up, you can make anything from ramen to spaghetti.

Pro tip: just using the plate you can cook bacon, and even heat up some pop tarts in the morning for the kids.